Inyo/Mono Health Officer Dr. Rick Johnson has updated the recent voluntary recall of peanut butter products. The new list of products affected by the voluntary recall includes products distributed to the Mammoth, Eastern Sierra, Death Valley, Owens Valley, and Round Valley school districts.

The Peanut Corporation of America, the company that sells peanut products to large institutional buyers, has expanded their voluntary recall to include five deliveries of peanut butter to California for use in the USDA commodities program.

The commodity peanut butter that was sent to California was delivered in January 2008. As a result, the California Department of Education is working with its distribution centers and recipient agencies to find and hold the peanut products pending further investigation.

Dr. Johnson is also asking all parents, volunteer groups, schools, and community agencies serving meals or snacks to check their cupboards and refrigerators to find and dispose of the peanut products involved in the recall.

So far there have been no reports of illness related to the expanded recall. The voluntary recall comes amid an FDA investigation into a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people nationwide beginning in September, with over 60 cases in California. There have been 22 hospitalizations, and 8 deaths so far.

Dr. Johnson warns consumers not to eat or handle peanuts or peanut commodity products listed in this and prior recalls. Dr. Johnson also emphasizes that peanut butter sold in retail stores is not linked to the outbreak.